Heater for starting cold internal combustion engines



March 5, 1940. l

c. TRcA HEATERFOR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1959 8 Sheefs-Sheet l March 5, 1940. c, TRCA 2,192,389

HEATER For: STARTING cow I'NTERNAL coMBusTIoN ENGINES Filed May 24, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 y l lum 1] v 4-5 5 7 +6 IIN/ I 04 57r 55 .50 46- O0 l 5f l Z 46 w l@ 45 j@ 'March 5, 1940.

C. TRCA HEATER FOR' STARTING COLD. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 @htm/wma) March 5, 1940. C. TRCA 2,192,389

{IEATER FOR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1959 B Sheets-Sheet 4 S543 (fdl.

March 5, 1940. c. TRcA 2,192,389

,HEATER FOR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 l res naa 1 vu cfm for,

March 5, 1940. c. TRcA 2,192,389

` HEATERA FOR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1959 8 Sheets-Shes?I 6 Mareh 5, 1940.

C. TRcA 2,192,389 HEATER FR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 ,1V/1g. gf.

8 sheets-sheet 8 C. TRCA March 5, 1940.

'HEATER FOR STARTING CCLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 1 939 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED. 'STATES HEATER FOR STARTING COLD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES vCharles. Trca, Pontiac, Mich. Application May 24, 1939, serial No. ziasso 16 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in heaters for starting cold internal combustion engines, and is of the general type of invention disclosed in the patent granted to Charles Trca, on February 2, 1937, Patent No. 2,069,689.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a heater for starting cold internal combusm tion engines wherein an air heater casing may be unitarily constructed with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine or designed for attachment thereto with air heating means associated with the air heater casing and oper' able from the instrument board of the motor vehicle for the heating of air that ilows in a circuitous passage through the heater casing with the flame or products of combustion of the heating device flowing through a chamber in the heater casing in which a part of the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine is located.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a heater for starting cold internal combustion engines wherein the heater embodies a casing constructed for the flow of air therethrough with means for connecting the casing to a carbureter and wherein the heater casing encloses an electrical resistance element over which the air flows for heating thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shownl in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings- -Figure 1 is a vertical side elevational view,`

partly broken away and shown in section of the heater for starting cold internal combustion engines, showing an alcohol burner associated with the heater, the heater being disposed above the up-draft carbureter and having a down-draft pipe communicating with the air intake of the carbureter;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly broken away and shown in section, and illustrating the heater associated with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine with the engine block fragmentarily shown;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the heater chamber and air passages in the heater casing;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing he burner casing, housing and alcohol burner with the flame snuier of the burner illustrated by dotted lines y in its iiame snuing position;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1, showing the pivotal mounting of the wick igniting carbon electrode for the burner;

- Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1`0 'l--l of Figure l, showing the heat responsive switch arm and contact for the operation of signal devices to determine the temperature of the heated air;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 15 8-8 of Figure 1, showing the heat responsive coil spring for the operation of the switch arm of the air temperature signal;

Figure 9 is a fragmentarytop plan view of the alcohol burner with a cleaner rod for the burner wick;

Figure 10 fragmentarily illustrates in side elevation, the two parts of the housing supporting the pivotally mounted wickigniting carbon electrode; y Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the dash board and instrument board of a motor vehicle equipped with the heater, showing an alcohol tank. and coil supported on the dash board and control devices and signals for the heater supported on the instrument board;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational View of the instrument board;

Figure 13 diagrammatically illustrates a wiring arrangement of electrical devices associated with the heater, the instrument being shown in section with'control and signal devices supported thereon; v

yFigure 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air heater, similar to Figure 3, but associated with a down-draft carbureter;

Figure l5 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly broken away and shownin section of another form of air heater constructed independently of the intake manifold, but attached thereto; E

Figure 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line IE--IE of Figure 15, showing a chimney outlet carried by the air heater casing for the products ef combustion 'f the air heater iiowing through the casing; 5@

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away and shown in section of another form of heater and associated burner, the latter being of the gasolene blow torch vwalls 48 and 4| extending vfrom Figure 23 is a. vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 23-23 of Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a vertical detail sectional View taken on line 24-24 of Figure 22;

Figure 25 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air heater casing having an insulation covering;

Figure 26 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 26-26 of Figure 25;

Figure 27 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another form of alcohol burner and housing; Y

Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 28-28 of Figure 27; and

Figure 29 is a detail sectional view taken on line 29-29 of Figure 27. n

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in Figures l to 3, the air heater is cast in one piece with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and as shown in said figures, the air heater comprises a casing of elongated construction and substantially rectangular having top and bottom Walls 38 and 3|, an inner side wall 32 and a removable outer side wall 33, the latter being removed as illustrated in Figure 1 to show a part of the interior construction of the air heater casing. 'Ihe intake manifold 34 of the internal combustion engine 35 is cast integral with the inner Wall 32 and bottom wall 3l of the air heater casing, the intake manifold 34 having end legs 36 extending outwardly of the heater casing for attachment to the engine 35 and a depending pipe wall 3| of the heater casing end of the pipe 38 'A partition in upper and lower the inner Wall 32 of the heater casing respectively above and below the intake manifold 34 and parallel with and spaced from the top and bottom walls of the heater casing together with a vertical wall 42 connecting the forward ends of the walls 48 and 4| and spaced from the removable outer wall 33 of the heater casing provides a chamber 43 in the rising from the carbureter 39. the heater casing comprising walls 48'to 42 and the top and bottom and outer side walls of the heater casing is divided into circuitous passages by means of walls 44 having openings 45 therein, said passages being designated by the reference character 46. The air to of the casing in a downward direction by means section 31 extending downwardly through the bottom for attachment to the-upper the air heater passages of the pipe 58 that is in communication with the air intake pipe 5| of the carbureter 39, gas produced by the mixture of heated air and gasolene owing upwardly through the pipe 38 and lower pipe 31 ofthe intake manifold to said manifold 34 in the heat chamber 43 for additional heating and for final delivery through the pipe ends 36 into the internal combustion engine 35.

` The heater for the air circuitously flowing through the passages 4'6 in the heater casing is attached to the end Wall 52 of the heater casing, the heater comprising an elongated vertically disposed housing of substantially rectangular construction having side walls 53 and 54, end walls 55- and56, a top Wall 51 and a 'bottom wall 58 that is removably attached thereto.- The upper end of the side wall 55 is secured to the end wall 52 of the air heater casing and said abutting Walls have registering openings 59 therein i to form communication between the heater housing and the air heater casing as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figure 1.

An alcohol burner is mounted in the` heater housing below the opening 59 andz as shown in detail in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 9, the same comprises `a -head of receptacle formation having side wall construction 68,- a bottom wall 6|, an inwardly directed flange 62 at the upper ends of the side walls and a central vertical fiue 63 extending upwardly from a central opening in the bottom wall plate 66 carrying a pair of diametrically opposite,-

arms 61 and 68, the arm 68 being pivotally mounted at its free end as at 69 to a bracket `18 attached to the side wall 56 of the heater housing. The free end of the other arm 61 is rigidly connected to a stub shaft 1| journaled in the side wall 55 of the heater housing withthe pivot 69, the` outer end of the stub shaft 1| having one end of anarm 12 Arigidly attached thereto while a push and pull wire 13 thatis attached at one end as at 14 has the other end thereof extending to the instrument board .15 carried by the dash board 16 of the motor vehicle and operated by one of the pull y y in Figure 12. Upon operation of the pull wire 13, the name snuirer 66 is moved from the open positions shown in Figures l and 4' to its; closed or flame snufng position shown by dotted lines in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 9,

wall construction of the burner head.

To promote combustion of the alcohol burneri wick 65 and for forcing heated products of cornbustion from the burner to the air heater casing and in particular, the chamber 43 therein, there is provided as shown in Figures 1 and 4, a fan blower associated with the bottom wall 58 of the heater housing. 'I'he fan blower casing 88 housing the fan wheel 8| has a tangential outlet pipe 82 having its free end attachedas at 83 to the bottom wall 58 of the heater housing and in sur.

rounding relation to the opening 84 in said bottom wall. An air inlet pipe 85 .shown in Figure 1, axially communicates with the fan casing 88 and the inlet end of said air pipe 85is normally closed by a hinged damper 86 operated by a pull wire 81 in alinement4 buttons 11 vshown i3" 6| and terminating above' the upper ends of the side Walls 68. An annular wall 64 is set within the vof' that extends to one of the pull buttons 11 on the instrument board 15. A motor 88 is attached to the fan casing and operates the fan wheel 8|, the control devices for the motor to be presently described. When the damper 86 is opened by the pull wire 81 and the motor 88 operating,. the fan wheel 8| draws air into the fan casing through the air inlet pipe and directs the same upwardly to the tangential outlet 82 of the fan casing into the lower nd of the heater housing to be directed upwardly through the center flue 63 and around the wall construction 60 of the burner, the latter being supported in the heater housing by means ofthe brackets 89. The air draft causes the heated products of combination from the burner wick 65 to pass through the openings 59 in the heater housing and air heater casing` for passage through the chamber 43 in the air heater casing for the heating of the air traveling in a circuitous path throughthe passages 46, the products of combustion exhausting through the opening in the end wall 48 of the air heater casing and entering the discharge pipe 9| that is directed rearwardly of the automobile in proximity of the chassis thereof.

Alcohol supply means for the burner is shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 11, a o'at chamber 92 being suitably supported upon the wall 56 of the heater housing and having a pipe connection 93 with the alcohol chamber of the burner head afforded by the wall construction 60, bottom wall 6| and lue 63. The alcohol chamber 92 carries a cover 94 with an elbow fitting 95 integral therewith, the lower end of the opening in the elbow iitting constituting a valve seat to be engaged by a valve 96 carried by the neat 91 in'the chamber 92. The upper end of the elbow' fitting 95 has a pipe line connection 98 with an alcohol tank 99 mounted upon the dash board 16 of the vehicle, the tank 99 having a iilling opening enclosed by a screw cap |00. The alcohol float chamber 92 is operated to maintain a constant alcohol level in theburner head.

An electrical sparkdevice is provided for igniting the burner wick 65 and said sparking device and parts directly associated therewith are shown more clearly in Figures 1, 6 and 10. The wire |0| is embedded in the burner wick 65 with the lower end engaged with or grounded to the bottom wall 6| of the burner head, the upper end |02 of the wire |0| terminating at the upper end of the wick 65. A rectangular hood formed of two telescoping sections |03 and |04 shown 1n `rdetail in Figure 10 have corresponding edges thereof anged as at |05 for abutting engagement when the sections |03 and said fianges secured as at |06 to the outer face of the wall 56 of the heater housing in registry with the opening |01 in said wall of the heater housing as shown in Figure 1, the outer end. of the hood being open as illustrated. The meeting edges of the two sections |03 and |04 of the hood have edge opening slots |08 that co-operate when the hood sections are assembled to provide va bearing for' a carbon electrode holder as shown in Figures 1 and 6. The carbon electrode holder includes an insulation block |09 having end portions ||0 and journaled in the openings |08 and a laterally directed arm ||.2 adapted to be projected through the opening |01 in the wall of the heater housing for positioning the yinner end of the arm in proximity of the upper end |02 of the wire |0|. A conductor wire ||3 extends through the insulation block |09, one end ||0 thereof and the arm'll2 for engaging with the viiange |23 engaged with the flange |2|.

|04 are nested with carbon electrode ||4 at the free end of the arm ||2. To move the carbon electrode ||4 toward and away from the end |02 of the conductor wire 0|, the end bearing of the insulation block- |09 projects outwardly of the hood and has one end of an arm ||.5 anchored thereto, the other end of the arm being connected to the pull wire I6 that extends to one of the pull buttons 11 on the instrument board 15. Signal devices are provided to indicate relatively low and high temperature conditions in the chamber 43 of the air heater casing so that it may be determined when air circulated through the passages 46 in the air heater` casing will attain a proper high degree of .heat for the starting of a coldE internal combustion engine, the signaling devices including green and red signal lamps I1 and ||8 respectively carried by the instrument board 15 as shown in Figures 12 and 13 and the switch devices for controlling the illumination of the lamps are shown more clearly in Figures 1, 7 and 8. The switch devices are associated with the top wall 51 of the heater housing, said' top wall 51 having an opening ||9 therein that is covered by an upstanding disk plate |20 mounted on the cover 51 by means of a depending annular iiange |2|. A disk plate 22 is mounted above the disk plate |20 and is spaced therefrom by the annular depending The switch devices are further shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8 as including a pair of terminals |24 and |25 extending to insulation blocks |26 rising from the upper disk plate |22, the lower ends of the terminals extending into the space between the disk plates |20 and |22. The pin |21 retains the disk plates |20 and |22 in assembled relation on the top wall-51 of the heater housing. A pin |28Y is journaled in the disk plate |20 slightly offset from the axis thereof, the upper end of the pin that extends into the space between the disk plates |20 and |22 carrying a switch arm '|29 that is adapted to contact the terminals |24 and |25, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figure '7. As shown in Figure 8, a heat expansive coil spring |30 has its inner end secured to the pin |28 below the disk plate |20 and the free end of said coiled spring |28 is engaged with an abutment |3| depending from the disk plate |20. In response to temperature conditions ing, the coiled spring |30 is expanded and contracted for rotating the pin |28 to cause the switch arm |29 to be selectively engaged with the terminals |24 or |25 for the illumination of the lamps ||1'and |l8.

The electrical devices for effecting operation of the sparking electrode ||4, the operation of the motor 88 for the fan blower 8| and for the illumination of the signal lamps |1 and 8 is shown in Figure 13. The storage battery |32 has the conductor |33 from one terminal grounded at |34. The conductor |35 from the other terminal of the battery |32 extends to the switch device |36 controlled by the button |31. From the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 a conductor wire |39 extends to the switch device |40 on the instrument board 15, the other wire |4| from the switch device |40 extending to the motor 88 for the fan blower while the other conductor wire |42 from the fan blower is grounded at |43.

' socket for the greenv lamp |1 while the conductor wire |46 from the other terminal |41 ofthe vsocket for the green lamp extends to the terminal |24 and when theswitch arm |29 is en-` gaged with the terminal |24, the conductor wire |48 extending from the pin |28 carrying the switch arm |29 to ground |48, the circuit isf' completed for the illumination of the green lamp ||1. For the illumination of the redI lamp 8,

the conductor wire |50 extending from the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 is connected to the terminal |5| of the socket carrying the red lamp ||8 while Vthe other terminal |52 of said socket has the conductor wire |53 vconnected thereto that extends to the terminal that is adapted to be engaged bythe switch arm |29, that is shifted upon expansion of thev heat responsive coiled spring. at the upper end of the heatervhousing. For the operation of the spark device for igniting the burner wick 65, a conductor wire |54 extends from the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 to the terminal |55 of the coil |56 supported upon the dash board 16 of the motor vehicle as shown in Figure 11, the second terminal |5`|of the coil |56 having a conductor wire |58 extending to the carbon electrode I4 that cooperates with the adjacent end |02 of the sparking wire 0| from which the conductor wire |59 extends to ground |60. The third terminal |6| of the coil' |56 has a conductor wire |62 extending to the terminal |63 of a push button switch |64, the other terminal |65 of the push button ,switch having a conductor wire |66 extending to ground |61. the switch device |36 is moved to its operative position,` the 'several electrical devicesare rendered operable upon operation of the control switches therefori From the above detailed description of the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 13, it is believed that the construction and .operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that the apparatus is especially designed as a heater for starting cold internal combustion engines and especially for the supply of heated air to the carburetor Vas well as for heating the intake manifold. Upon opening the switch device 36 by means ofthe button 31 as shown in Figure 13 and thereafter operating the push button |64, the sparking electrode ||4coacts with the wire |02 to produce a spark for the ignition of the burner wick 65 of the alcohol burner. .The button or knob 44 may then be rotated to energize and operate the motor 38 for the operation of the fan wheel 8|, the damper 86 openedF by means of the pull wire 81 to admit air to the fan casingto be blown upwardly through the heater housing and into and through the combustion chamber 43 in the air heater casing. After the burner wick has been ignited, the pull wire ||6 is operated for laterally displacing'lthe carbon electrode I4 into the hood at one side of the heater housing. The green lamp ||1 is il-` luminated during low temperature conditions in the heater housing by the normal position of the coiled spring |30 holding the switch arm |29` engaged with the terminal |24. When the temperature in the kupper end of the heater housing and in the chamber 43 in the air heater casing have been raised 'to the desired degree whereby air to be flowed through the circuitous passages 46 in the air heater casing will be heated to the proper degree, the heat responsive coiled spring When the button |31 of l |30 reacts or expands tofrotate the 4vpin |28`and move the switch arm |29 out of contact witlrthe terminal |24 to extinguish the green lamp ||1 and to move such switcharm |29 into vengagement with the terminal |25 for vtheillumination of the red signal lamp H8, which will indicate to the'operator that the heater has-been raised to the desired temperature for the proper heating of the air to be fed to the carburetor.v The valve |68 in the normal air intake pipe 5| of the carburetor 39 isclosed by the pull wire |69 that extends to and is operated by one of the push buttons 11 upon the instrument board 15 so that only heated air owing through 'the air heated casing is delivered through the pipe 50 into the carburetor 38, the products of combustion from the alcohol burner owing through the chamber the outlet pipe 9|. After the engine has been started, the flame of the burner wick 65 is extinguished by operating the pull wire 13 by one of the buttons 11 for moving the disk 66 on its pivotal mountings 69 and 1| into the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 to overlie the upper end of the burner ,wick and to snu `the same. After the internalcombustion engine has been successfully started, thefswitchdevice |36.V is cut out by the push button |31, the valve device |68 in the air intake 5I of the carburetor opened for the normal operation of the -carburetor and to` the exclusion of the air heater device.

In the form of invention described, theA air heater casing is associated witha carburetor of the up-draft type, while in Figure 14 of the drawings, the same type of air heater casing is associated with a carbureter of the down-draft type. As illustrated in Figure 14, the air heater casing has an air inlet pipe 48 associated therewith and the heated air after passage through the circuitous passages 46 in the air heater cas.- ing outlets through the top wall 30 into the conduit or pipe 50a for delivery to the downdraft air pipe 5|a of the carbureter 39a., the down-draft pipe 5| a being provided with a manually controlled damper |68a for shutting off the normal supply of air. to the carbureter 39a'. The gas mixture from the carbureter ,39a iiows downwardly through the pipe section 31a to enter the intake manifold 34 within the combustion chamber 43 of the air heater casingandfor final discharge through the manifold pipe ends 36 into the internal combustion engine 35.

In the form of air heater device shown in Figures l5 to 20, the air heater casing designated in general by the reference character 30a isconstructed independently of the intake manifold 34 andis attached thereto and to parts ofthe casing 30a having an vair inlet 41h and an exhaust pipe 9| in communication with the' heater chamf ber 43 through which the products of combustion pass. The heater chamber 43 also as a chimney outlet |1| that is normally closed by a top damperplate |12; l f,

\A heaterhhousing |13 is attached to ene end of the air heatercasing 30a and encloses a gasolene blow torchA burner and fuel supply means therefor, the heater housing |13 being in communication with the combustion .chamber that extends to one of the pull buttons 11 on the instrument board 15. A motor 88 is attached to the fan casing and operates the fan wheel 8|, the control devices for the motor to be presently described. When the damper 8|i is opened by the pull wire 81 and the motor 88 operating, the fan `wheel 8| draws air into the fan casing through the air inlet pipe and directs the same upwardly to the tangential outlet 82v of the fan casing into the lower end of the heater housing lto be directed upwardly through the center :due y63 and around the wall construction 60 of the burner, the latter being supported in the heater housing by means ofthe brackets 89. l The air draft causes the heated products of combination from the burner wick 85 to pass through the openings 59 in the heater housing and air heater `casing for passage through the chamber 43 in the air heater casing for the heating of' the air traveling in circuitous path throughV the passages 4B, the products of combustion exhausting through the opening in the end wall 48 of the airlheater casing and entering the discharge pipe 9| that is directed rearwardly of the automobile in proximity of the chassis thereof.

Alcohol supply means for the burner is shown v more `clearly in Figures 1 and 92 being suitably supported upon the wall 56 of the heater housing and having a pipe connection 93 with the alcohol chamber of the burner head afforded by the wall construction 68, bottom wall 6| and ue |53. The alcohol chamber 92 carries a cover 94 with an elbow fitting 95 integral therewith, the lower end of the opening in the elbow tting S5 constituting a valve seat to be engaged by a valve 96 carried by the float 91 inlthe chamber 92. The upper end of the elbow' fitting 95 has a pipe line connection 98 with an alcohol tank 99 mounted upon the dash board 16 of the vehicle, the tank 99 having a filling opening enclosed by a screw cap |00. The alcohol float chamber v92 is operated to maintain a constant alcohol level in the burner head.

An electrical spark-device is provided for lgniting the burner wick 65 and said sparking device and parts directly associated therewith are shown more clearly in Figures 1, 6 and 10. 'Ihe wire |0| is embedded in the burner wick 65 with the lower end engaged with or grounded to the bottom wall 6| of the burner head, the upper end |02 of the wire |0| terminating at the upper end of the wick 65. A rectangular hood formed l of two telescoping sections |03 and |04 shown in detail in Figure 10` have corresponding edges thereof iianged as at |05 for abutting engagement when the sections |03 and |04 are nested with said flanges secured as at |05 to the outer .face of the wall 56 of the heater housing in registry with the opening |01 in said wall of the heater housing as shown in Figure 1, the outer end. of the hood being open as illustrated. The meeting edges of the two sections |03 and |04 of the hood have edge opening slots |08 that co-operate when the hood sections are assembled to provide a bearing forI a carbon electrode holder as shown in Figures l and 6. The carbon electrode holder includes an insulation block |09 having end portions ||0 and journaled in the openings |08 and a laterally directed arm ||2 adapted to be projected through the opening |01 in the wall of the heater housing for positioning the inner end of the arm in proximity of the upper end |02 of the wire |0|. A conductor wire ||3 extends through the insulation block |09, one end ||0 thereof and the arm |i2 for engaging with the 11, a float chamber carbon electrode ||4'at the free endl of the arm H2. To move the carbon electrode ||4 toward and away from the end |02 of the conductor wire 0|, the end bearing of the insulation block- |09 projects outwardly of the hood and has one end of an arm ||5 anchored thereto, the other end of the arm being connected to the pull wire ||8 that extends to one of the pull buttons 11 on the instrument board 15. Signal devices are provided to indicate relatively low and high temperature conditions in the chamber 43 of the air heater casing so that it may be determined when air circulated through the passages 46 in the air heater casing will attain a proper high degree of .heat for the starting of a cold internal combustion engine, the signaling devices including green and red signal lamps ||1 and ||8 respectively carried by the instrument board 15 as shown in Figures 12 and 13 and the switch devices for controlling the illumination of the lamps are shown more clearly in Figures 1, 7 and 8. The switch devices are associated with the top wall 51 of the heater housing, said' top wall 51 having an open- Y ing ||9 therein that is covered by an upstanding terminals extending into the space between the disk plates |20 and |22. The pin |21 retains the disk plates |20 and |22 in assembled relation on the top wall 51 of the heater housing. r A pin |28. is journaled in the disk plate |20 slightly offset from the axis thereof, the upper end of the pin that extends into the space between the disk plates |20 and |22 carrying a switch arm |29 that is adapted to contact the terminals |24 and |25, as will be readily understood from an inspec-v tion of Figure '1. As shown in Figure 8, a heat expansive coil spring |30 has its inner end se cured tothe pin |28 below the disk plate |20 and the free end of said coiled spring |28 is engaged with an abutment `|3| depending from the disk plate |20. In response to temperature conditions within the upper end of the heater housing and the combustion chamber 43 in the air heater casing, the coiled spring |30 is expanded and contracted for rotating the pin |28 to cause the switch arm |29 to be selectively engaged .with the terminals |24 or |25 for the illumination of the lamps ||1 and ||8. i

The electrical devices for effecting operation of the sparking electrode ||4, the operation of the motor 88 for the fan blower 8| and for the illumination of the signal lamps ||1 and H8 is shown in Figure 13. The storage battery |32 has the conductor |33 from one terminal grounded at |34. The conductor |35 from the other terminal of the battery |32 extends to the switch device |36 controlled by the button |31. From the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 a conductor wire |39 extends to the switch device |40 on the instrument board 15, the other wire |4| from the switch device |40 extending to the motor 88 for the fan blower while the other conductor wire |42 from the'fan blower is grounded at |43.

the motor 88 is con- |44 on the instrument For the operation of the green signal lamp ||1, the conductor 75 I wire |44 from the terminal4 |38 of the switch device |36 extends to the terminal |45 of the socket for the green lamp I1 While the conductor wire |46 from the other terminal |41 of the socket' for the -green lamp extends to the terminal |24 and when the switch arm |29 is engaged with the terminal |24, the conductor Wire |48 extending from the pin |28 carrying the switch arm |29 to ground |49, the circuit isf' completed for the illumination of the green lamp ||1. For the illumination of the redy lamp H8, the conductor wire |50 extending from the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 is connected to the terminal of the socket carrying' the red lamp ||8 While thev other terminal |52 of said socket hasgthe conductor wire |53 connected thereto that .extends to the terminal |25 that is adapted to be engaged by the switch arm |29, that is shiftedupon expansion of the heat responsive coiled spring |30 at the upper end of the heater housing. For'the operation of the spark device for igniting the burner wick 65, a conductor wire |54 extends from the terminal |38 of the switch device |36 to the terminal |55 of the coil |56 supported upon the dash board 16 of the motor vehicle as shown in Figure 11, the second terminal |51 of the `coil |56 having-a conductor wire |58 extending to the carbon electrode ||4 that cooperates with the adjacent end |02 of the sparking wire |0| from which the conductor Wire |59 extends to ground |60. The third terminal |6| of the coil |56 has a conductor wire |62 extending to the terminal |63 of a push button switch |64, the other terminal |65 of the push button switch having a conductor wire |66 extending to ground'l61. When the button |31 of the switch device |36 is moved to its operative s position, the several electrical devices are rend-Y ered operable upon operation of the control switches thereforn? From the above detailed description of the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 13, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that the apparatus isvespecially designed as a heater for starting cold internal combustion engines and especially for the supply of heated air to the carburetor tas well as for heating the intake manifold. Upon opening the switch device 36 by means of the button 31 as shown in Figure 13 and thereafter operating the push button |64, the sparking electrode H4 coacts with the wire |02 to produce a spark for the ignition of the burner wick 65 of the alcohol burner. The button or knob 44 may then be rotated to energize and operate the motor 38 for the operation of the fan Wheel 8|, the damper 86 opened by means of the pull wire 81 to admit air to the fan casing 80 to be blown upwardly through the heater housing and into and through the combustion chamber 43in the air heater casing. After the burner wick has been ignited, the pull wire ||6 is operated for laterally displacing'the carbon electrode I4 into the hood at one side of the heater housing. The green lamp ||1 is illuminated during low temperature Aconditions in the heater housing by the normal position of the coiled spring |30 holding the switch-arm |29 engaged with the terminal |24. When the temper ature in the upper end of the heater housing and in the chamber 43 in the air heater casing have been raised to the desired degreewhereby air v to be flowed through the circuitous passages 46 in the air heater casing will be heated to the proper degree, the heat responsive coiled'spring |30 reacts or expands to rotate thepi'n |218 and movethe switch arm |29 out of contact with the terminal A'|24 toextinguish the green Alamp ||1` and to 'move such switch arm |29 into engagement with the terminal |25 for the illumination of the red signal lamp H8, which will indicate to the operator that the heater has been raised to the desired temperature for the' proper heating of the air to be fed to the carburetor; The valve |68 in the normal air intake pipe'5l of the carburetor 39 is closed by the pull wire |69 that extends to and is operated by'onevof the push buttons 11v upon the instrument board 15 so that only heated air flowing through the air heated casing is delivered through the pipe 50 into the carburetor 39, the products of combustion yfrom the alcohol burner owing through the chamber 43 of the air heater casing and escaping through the outlet pipe 9|. After the vengine has been started, the ame of the burner wick 65 is extinguished by operating the pull wire 13 by one of the buttons 11 for moving the disk 66 on its pivotal mountings 69 and 1| into the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 to overlie the upper end of the burner wick and tovsnui `the same. After the internal combustion enginehas been successfullystarted, the switch device |36 lis cut out by the push button |31, the valve device |68 in the air intake 5| of the carburetor opened for the normal operation "of lthe carburetor and to the exclusion of the air heater device.

In the form of invention described, the air heater casing is associated with a carburetor of the up-draft type, while in Figure 14 of the drawings, the sameltype of air heater casing is associated with a carburetor of the down-draft type. As illustrated in Figure 14, the air heater casing has an air inlet pipe 48 associated therewith and 4the heated air after passage through the circuitous passages 46 in the air heater casing outlets through the top wall -30 into the conduit or pipe 50a for delivery to the down` downwardly through the pipe section 31a to en-` ter the intake manifold 34 within the combustion chamber 43 of the air heater casingand for nal discharge through the manifold pipe ends -36 into the internal combustion engine 35.

In the form of air heater device shown in Fig- Y ures l5"to 20, the` air heater casing designated in general by the reference character 30a is constructed independently of the intake manifold 34 land is attached thereto and to parts ofthe eng-ine body by means of mounting brackets |10, as illustrated in Figure 15. The interior construction of the air heater casing 30a as shown in Figure 16 is similar to the heater casing shown in Figure 3 and has the internal partition construction Icomprising the walls 40, 4| and 42 to provide circuitous passages 46, the air heater casing 30a having an air inlet 411;v and anexhaust pipe 9| in communication with the heater chamber 43 through which the products of combustion pass. The heater chamber 43 also as achimney outlet 1| that is normallyfclosed by a top damper plate |12. i

- A heater housing |13 is attached to one end of the air heater Acasing 30a and encloses a g'asolene blow torchxfburner and fuel `supply 43 of the air heater casing as shown in Figure 17. A gasolene tank |14 is supported by means of brackets |15 within the lower end of the heater housing |13 and includes a filler opening closed by a screw plug |16, and a -hand pump |1 for placing the fuel under pressure for delivery to a blow torch. A pipe |18 having a wick |18a therein is mounted in the top Wall of the gasolene tank |14 supports at its upper end above said gasolene tank, a burner nozzle |19 controlled in its operation by a needle valve construction |80,

the burner |19 being of the retort type and having a fuel collection pan |8| supported on the upper end of the pipe |19 below said burner. A pair of flame directing guide plates |82 is mounted in the housing, respectively at opposite sides of the burner |19 and are supported in position by means of brackets |83 connected to the side walls of the heater housing |13 as shown in Figure 18, the flame guide plates |82 directing the flame from the burner |19 into the com- 4bustion chamber 43 of the air heater casing 30a.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figures 2l to 24, an electric resistance element is employed for the heating of air which is to be fed to the ca'rbureter, the air heater casing 30h being attached to the intake manifold 34 by means of brackets |10a and said air heater casing 30D has an air Ainlet opening |88 at one end thereof and upper and lower heated air outlet opening |89 and |90 respectively at the opposite ends to accommodate the heater casing 30h for carbureters of either the'up-draft or down-draft type, the unemployed outlet opening |89' or |90 having closure means associated therewith. Insulation blocks |9| and |92 supported within the air heater casing 30h adjacent opposite ends support an electrical resistance element |93, the insulation block |92 carrying exposed terminals |94 for attachment to a connector of a source of electrical energy. Air enters the air heater casing 30b to the air inlet opening |88 and is heated by passing over the resistance elements |93 for discharge through either air outlet |89 or |99 to the associated carbureter.

Another form of alcohol burner combined with a heater housing that is associated with the air heater casing is shown in Figures 27 to 29, the

heater housing 55a being attached to one end of nular frusto-conical flange 20| carried by the inner face of the heater housing 55a in proximity 0f said inwardly struck fingers 200 cause air to enter the upper endof theburner and be directed downwardly onto the upper end of the wick 65a. Air for combustion purposes is further provided by means of a series of openings 202 in the upper i end of the cylindrical wick holding member 64a. A ame snuffer 66a is associated with the upper end of the burner 60a and comprises a disk plate that is attached at an edge thereof as at 203 to the shaft 1|a journaled transversely of the heater housing 55a, the shaft 1|a projecting laterally of the heater housing and having an operating lever 12a. attached thereto. The upper end of the heater housing above the burner 60a is' provided with an arcuate flame and heat delecting wall 204 for directing heat and products of combustion into the air heater casing 30a as will at once be understood from an inspection of Figure 27.

The spark ignition means for the wick 65a includes a wire |0|a grounded to the cylindrical wall 64a with its upper end |02a terminating adjacent the upper end of the wick 65. An arcuate cooperating sparking rod |4a is pivotally mounted in the casing |03a that is supported on the heater housing 55a, the sparking rod ||4a being mounted upon a shaft ||0a that projects from.the casing |03a as at |||`a for the attachment of an operating levervlla. The sparking finger |4a has its operative end movable through an opening 01a inthe heater housing 55m and during such movement the same is contacted by a pair of cleaner brushes 205 as shown in 'Figures 27 and 28, the spark-ing finger ||4a being movable as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 27 into sparking position with respect to the upper end |02a of the sparking wire lilla. It will be' understood that the sparkingnger |4a and sparking wire lla. vhave suitable electrical connections to render them operable.. As an aid to assure ignition of the wick 65a by the sparking device, a heat resistance element 206 is associated with the upper end of the wick 65a and is positioned between the operative sparking position of the sparking nger ||4a and the upper end of the sparking wire |0203, the coiled resistance element 206 having a wire 201 ygrounded to the burner 60a and another wire 208 extending to tion with a source of electrical energy. The electrical resistance element 206 will tend to Vaporize the alcohol at the upper end of the wick 65a to assure ignition of the wick when the sparking device is operated.

In all forms of the invention, the air heater casing as illustrated in Figures 25 and 26 is covered with asbestos or other heat insulation material |95 for the maximum radiation of heat into the circuitous air passages 46 by the partition wall construction bordering the combustion chamber 43 of the air heater casing,

From the vabove detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. A

Iclaim: 1. In a heater of the character described, an air heater casing having a lcombustion passage therethrough and circuitous air ow passages bordering the combustion passage, said 'casing when mounted in position having the intake manifold of van internal combustion engine lo- 75 cated in the combustion passage, means forming communication between the air flow passages and l the carburetor of the engine, a heater housing at one end ofthe casing in communication with the combustion passage, a fuel burner in the heater housing, controlled means for admitting air for combustion to the heater housing, and signal devices associated with the heater hou-sing for indicating the temperature therein. A

2. In a heater of the character described, an air heater casing having a combustion passage therethrough and circuitous air ow passages bordering the combustion passage, said casing when mounted in position having the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine located in the combustion passage, means forming communication between the air How rpassages and the carbureter of the engine, a heater hous- 3. A heater ofthe character set forth in claim l, characterized by the heater casing and intake manifold being of unitary construction.

4. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterized by the heater casing and intake manifold being of unitary construction.

5. A heater of the character set forth in claim 1, characterized by the air admission means to the heater housing including a fan blower attached to the housing, a motor for operating thev fan blower, a control switch for the motor and a manually controlled damper for admitting air to the fan blower.

6. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterized by the air admission means to the heater housing including a fan blower attached'to the housing, a motor for operating the fan jblower, a control switch for the motor and a manually controlled damper for admitting air to the fan blower.

7. A heater of the character set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fuel burner including ran alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the Wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal.

8. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2,v characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal.

9. A'q heater of the character set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal, said sparking electrode being pivotally mounted for movements toward and away from said wick and terminal and means for shifting said sparking electrode.

10. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterizedby the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode assdciatedwith said terminal, said sparking electrode being pivotally mounted for movements toward and away from said wick and terminal and means for shifting said sparking electrode.

- 11. A heater of the character set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical termina] embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal and an electrical resistance element in proximity of the upper end of the wick to facilitate ignition of the wick and located at the sparking gap between the embedded terminal and said electrode. 12. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electricalterminal embedded in the wick and a sparking,

electrode associated with said terminal and an electrical resistance element in proximity ,of the upper end of the Wick to facilitate ignition of the wick and located at the sparking gap between4 the embedded terminal and said electrode.

13. A heater of the character set forth in claim l, characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal, said sparking electrode being pivotally mounted for movements toward and away from said wick and terminal, means for shifting said sparking electrode and an electrical resistance element in' proximity of the upper end of the wick to facilitate ignition of the wick andlocated at the sparking gap between the embedded terminal and said electrode. v

14. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fuel burner including an alcohol lamp with a wick, an electrical terminal embedded in the wick and a sparking electrode associated with said terminal, said sparking electrode being pivotally mounted for movements toward and away from said wick and terminal, means for shifting said sparking electrode and an electrical resistance element in proximity of the upper end of the wick to fa cilitate ignition of the wickand located at the sparking gap between the embedded terminal and said electrode.

15. `A heater of the character set forth in claim 1, characterized by a heat insulation covering for the air heater casing.

16. A heater of the character set forth in claim 2, characterized by a heat insulation covering for the air heater casing.

CHARLES 'Inca 

